Paddle over 700 miles across north central Alaska on WI's longest expedition. Known as the North American Serengeti, you'll paddle four rivers through some of the most remote and beautiful landscapes on Earth. Enjoy sweeping panoramas of mountains, plateaus and river valleys as you search for grizzlies, caribou, and peregrine falcons. Join the mighty Yukon River as you paddle its swift current to our take-out at the Alaska Pipeline Haul Road Bridge.
Sample Itinerary
DAYS 1-9: The expedition begins off the famed Dempster Highway in the Yukon Territory. After 4 days paddling the Eagle River, and a brief float on the Bell River, you will join up with the Porcupine River, 50 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Cross the ancient migratory path of the Porcupine Caribou Herd. At the confluence of the Porcupine and Bell rivers is a sweeping panorama of mountains, plateaus, and river valleys that will give you an appreciation of wild Alaska to last a lifetime. It's incredible!
DAYS 10-20: In addition to the wildlife and landscape, you will have the chance to explore a number of abandoned and inhabited native settlements on the Porcupine including Old Crow, an inhabited settlement founded by the Gwich'in people. Old Crow's location was prized by this subsistence tribe for its strategic proximity to excellent fishing and the seasonal migratory routes of the Porcupine caribou. You may have an opportunity to interact with remaining residents of Old Crow, and glimpse life 350 miles from the nearest road. Just past Old Crow is a canyon area known as the Ramparts. The Ramparts provides fantastic scenery and some of the best opportunities of the trip to view peregrine falcons. During this stretch of the trip you will also stop at Rampart House, an old independently operated trading post, and officially cross the Alaskan border.
A number of rivers and creeks join the Porcupine and add to the swiftness of the river's flow. The Old Crow River joins near the Old Crow settlement, and The Coleen River joins near the end of the Ramparts. The river confluence provides good camping opportunities nearby, so you'll have a chance to explore these areas on foot.
DAY 21: Arrive at Ft. Yukon at the junction of the Porcupine and Yukon Rivers. Fly out of Ft. Yukon to Fairbanks. and then home. It will be a bit of culture shock as the transition will be quick!
Travel, Terrain, Etc...
TERRAIN/ROUTE CHOICES: This area is a combination of mountainous and lowland terrain. The river banks are often steep and forested, however, the Porcupine and connecting rivers are surprisingly accessible. We will try to camp in the most accessible areas. The Porcupine and connecting rivers offer a range of daily route options from very easy to very difficult.
TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: You will travel in 17-foot Old Town Tripper canoes, which hold two to three paddlers, plus all necessary gear and live out of large Duluth packs and dry bags. The average day's travel will consist of 8 - 10 hours of paddling, depending on weather conditions. Because of the fast moving current, you will travel anywhere from 10-50 miles a day. To protect the environment, WI uses minimum impact camping techniques.
WEATHER: Temperatures in the summer can range from 20 F in the evening to 70 F during the day. Expect a variety of weather patterns, from hot, calm, summer days to rain, wind, and cold. Severe weather is not uncommon at this latitude (60 N). Daylight often lasts until after midnight during July and August.
LODGING/BATHROOM FACILITIES: This is a camping trip. At night you will sleep in a comfortable Eureka Timberline tent. Typically, there are 3 people per 4 person tent (although other arrangements can be made). We recommend that you bring your own personal sleeping bag and "camprest" foam core inflatable mattress (a limited number of sleeping bags and mattresses are available as loaners for individuals who need them). Bathroom facilities consist of an outhouse or a foldable commode chair set up in a privacy tent. We make every effort to ensure privacy and cleanliness.
GROUP SIZE: The group size ranges from 8 to 12 participants, plus 2 or more Wilderness Inquiry staff. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds and abilities, including people with disabilities.
CAMP CHORES: Our trips are cooperative in nature. WI staff will assist you in whatever areas you need, however most people pitch in where they can. Part of the adventure involves learning about daily camp activities.
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: If you are new to outdoor activities, you need not spend a lot of money on gear. Wilderness Inquiry will provide all necessary canoeing and camping equipment. All you need to provide is your personal gear, such as clothing and a sleeping bag. A detailed equipment list will be sent to you upon confirmation of your participation. If you need to borrow personal gear, that can usually be arranged.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Previous wilderness experience is required. Swift water paddling and ferrying experience is recommended. This trip is lengthy, may be extremely trying, and most days will involve extensive paddling.
BORDER REQUIREMENTS: This destination is outside the US and has special special requirements for crossing the Canadian border. If you are interested in this trip, visit: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/ to learn more about the requirements.
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Wilderness Inquiry is proud to serve Caribou Coffee on all our trips. Great food, great coffee, and great company are just some of the ingredients that make Wilderness Inquiry trips special.
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This 750 mile canoe trip crosses a good bit of the great, tilted plateau that makes up the interior of Alaska between the Alaska and the Brooks Ranges. It actually covers four rivers, the Eagle, the Bell, the Porcupine and the Yukon. The rivers themselves are all part of the Yukon drainage.
This trip starts on the Eagle River in the Yukon Territory off the Dempster Highway, about half way between Dawson and Inuvik. The Eagle River is a relatively slow moving river with muddy banks that flows into the Bell River. We paddle the Bell for only a short stretch (less than a day), and then enter the Porcupine at a place where the vista of the mountains, river and fields is truly stunning.
The Porcupine is one of the largest tributaries of the Yukon River and a historically important travel route. Single-channeled and clear-flowing, this mostly flatwater river flows through the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge past beautiful steep-walled canyons, rolling hills, and cliffs before meandering across the vast wetland basin of the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge to its confluence with the Yukon River.
The Porcupine River area is the wintering home of the Porcupine Caribou Herd. In a pattern of migration established centuries ago, the caribou of the Porcupine herd arrive each spring on the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge. This awe-inspiring wildlife spectacle evokes images of the long-gone buffalo herds of the Great Plains and spectacular gatherings of wildlife on Africa's Serengeti Plain.
The caribou travel up to 400 miles from the wintering grounds in northeastern Alaska, the central Yukon, and the Richardson Mountains of the Northwest Territories. The herd -- 129,000 strong -- congregates on the Coastal Plain where the cows will give birth. It is a cycle that has gone on undisturbed for thousands of years.
Habitats along these river sections are typical of the eastern interior of Alaska and the west central Yukon. White and black spruce of various sizes are the most common forest types, usually within a matrix of aspen, dwarf willow, and birch. Although we never leave the treeline, one of the interesting things you will see is how the trees get smaller and smaller the farther north you paddle. This is due to the cold, less sunlight, and permafrost.
Wildlife include caribou, Dall's sheep, grizzly and black bear, moose, beaver, red fox, wolf, hare, common raven, rock and willow ptarmigan. This area is also a rich with raptors and falcons, including the Peregrine Falcon, the world's fastest creature. For a great website listing these and other species found along the Porcupine River go to: http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/FISH.GAME/notebook/notehome.htm
The Porcupine River enters the Yukon near the remote town called Fort Yukon. At this point, the Yukon River is a large, multi-channeled river that flows through the Yukon Flats Refuge. The main channel is not always apparent when paddling.
Yukon Flats Refuge is about 100 air miles north of Fairbanks, encompassing about 12 million acres along the Yukon River. The Yukon River reaches its most northerly point in the Yukon Flats, breaking free from canyon walls to spread unconfined for 200 miles through a vast flood plain.
In the spring, millions of migrating birds converge on the refuge, which, with its 40,000 lakes and other wetlands, has one of the highest waterfowl nesting densities in North America. An estimated 1.6 million ducks, 10,000 geese, 11,000 sandhill cranes, 15,000 loons, at least 100,000 grebes, and hundreds of thousands of songbirds nest annually on the refuge. Each year, the Yukon Flats is a major contributor to the migrations that occur along North American flyways. Waterfowl banded on the refuge have been recovered in 45 of the 50 states, Central and South America, Canada, and Russia.
Birds are not the only migratory wildlife dependent upon refuge wetlands. Salmon from the Bering Sea ascend the Yukon River, to spawn in the freshwater streams of their birth. Runs of king, coho, and chum salmon pass through and spawn on the refuge each summer. Mammals on the refuge include moose, caribou, Dall sheep, black and brown bears, wolves, marten, lynx, and other furbearers.
This overview only begins to scratch the surface of this fantastic expedition through the heart of Alaska. If you care to read more, let us suggest: The Alaska River Guide by Karen Jettmar, Alaska Northwest Books, 1998.
For more information, visit these links:
Defenders of Wildlife - Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Being Caribou - A Journey with the Porcupine Caribou
Porcupine River Ice-Free Period
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - Peregrine Falcon Info
"Following the Porcupine Caribou" - a NPR Radio Show
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